SAN FRANCISCO IMPROVEMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 4208, 22 August 1876, Page 3

SAN FRANCISCO IMPROVEMENTS.

Mr George Coppin, M.L.A., has favored the ' Melbourne Argus ' with the following extracts from a letter from a correspondent at San Francisco :—" I will send every information connected with the working of street tramways, more particularly those that dispense with horse, and substitute steam and wire rope. Carriages have been taken up a very steep hill 10 blocks in extent by means of a wire rope, with great satisfaction and profit; and Standford, our railway king, intends to extend the principle to a line two miles in length, through the heart of the city, ascending and descending several hills. The engine and works are placed at one end, the rails are level with tie street, and tho wire rope which conveys the cars both ways is underground. It is a Culifornian invention, and crowds of stiangers are at all times gazing in wonder at carriages running up and down hill without any perceptible motive power. The Sutter-street line—five miles long—with branches to different parts of the city—have petitioned the board of aldermen for power to establish the same system all over the city, by which means horses will be dispensed with altogether. Our city and state never looked so prosperous. Our new cityhall will cost eight millious of dollars. The Palace Hotel is a great success; some days they dine 800 people ; they could all sit down at the same time. We shall reap this year 1,000,000 tons of grain, and the wine and fruit crops are beyond description. Two mines are paying in dividends 2,160,000d015. per month. One shirt factory, working by machiuery, employs 300 men. The population—by the directory—of the city has increased 40,000 during the year, so that you can imagine the quantity of building going on; many private residences costing l,000 ; 000dols., with an additional 100,000dol8. for the erection of a stable. This year will most certainly surpass the last, and wo may congratulate ourselves upon being t'ae most extravagant city in the world."